(Genesis 41: 33-36)
“Now you should choose some man with wisdom and insight and put him in charge of the country. You must also appoint other officials and take a fifth of the crops during the seven years of plenty. Order them to collect all the food during the good years that are coming, and give them authority to store up grain in the cities and guard it. The food will be a reserve supply for the country during the seven years of famine which are going to come on Egypt. In this way the people will not starve.”
Saturday, October 17, 2009
20.5 In Fasting I Pray For Help
(Psalm 35:13-23, 27-28)
But when they were sick, I dressed in mourning;
I deprived myself of food;
I prayed with my head bowed low,
as I would pray for a friend or a brother.
I went around bent over in mourning,
as one who mourns for his mother.
But when I was in trouble, they were all glad
and gathered around to make fun of me;
strangers beat me and kept striking me.
Like men who would mock a cripple,
they glared at me with hate.
How much longer, Lord, will you just look on?
Rescue me from their attacks;
save my life from these lions!
Then I will thank you in the assembly of your people;
I will praise you before them all.
Don’t let my enemies, those liars,
gloat over my defeat.
Don’t let those who hate me for no reason
smirk with delight over my sorrow.
They do not speak in a friendly way,
instead they invent all kinds of lies
about peace-loving people.
They accuse me, shouting, “We saw what you did!”
But you, O Lord, have seen this.
So don’t be silent, Lord;
don't keep yourself far away!
Rouse yourself, O Lord, and defend me;
rise up, my God, and plead my cause.
May those who want to see me acquitted
shout for joy and say again and again,
“How great is the Lord!
He is pleased with the success of his servant.”
Then I will proclaim your righteousness,
and I will praise you all day long.
But when they were sick, I dressed in mourning;
I deprived myself of food;
I prayed with my head bowed low,
as I would pray for a friend or a brother.
I went around bent over in mourning,
as one who mourns for his mother.
But when I was in trouble, they were all glad
and gathered around to make fun of me;
strangers beat me and kept striking me.
Like men who would mock a cripple,
they glared at me with hate.
How much longer, Lord, will you just look on?
Rescue me from their attacks;
save my life from these lions!
Then I will thank you in the assembly of your people;
I will praise you before them all.
Don’t let my enemies, those liars,
gloat over my defeat.
Don’t let those who hate me for no reason
smirk with delight over my sorrow.
They do not speak in a friendly way,
instead they invent all kinds of lies
about peace-loving people.
They accuse me, shouting, “We saw what you did!”
But you, O Lord, have seen this.
So don’t be silent, Lord;
don't keep yourself far away!
Rouse yourself, O Lord, and defend me;
rise up, my God, and plead my cause.
May those who want to see me acquitted
shout for joy and say again and again,
“How great is the Lord!
He is pleased with the success of his servant.”
Then I will proclaim your righteousness,
and I will praise you all day long.
20.4 When You Fast, Groom Your Hair
(Matthew 6:16-18)
And when you fast, do not put on a sad face as the hypocrites do. They neglect their appearance so that everyone will see that they are fasting. I assure you, they have already been paid in full. When you go without food, wash your face and comb your hair, so that others cannot know that you are fasting- only your Father, who is unseen, will know. And your Father, who sees what you do in private, will reward you.
And when you fast, do not put on a sad face as the hypocrites do. They neglect their appearance so that everyone will see that they are fasting. I assure you, they have already been paid in full. When you go without food, wash your face and comb your hair, so that others cannot know that you are fasting- only your Father, who is unseen, will know. And your Father, who sees what you do in private, will reward you.
20.3 Fasts Are Days Of Joyful Return To God
(Zechariah 8:15-19)
Now I am planning to bless the people of Jerusalem and Judah. So don’t be afraid. These are the things you should do: Speak the truth to one another. In the courts give real justice- the kind that brings peace. Do not plan ways of harming one another. Do not give false testimony under oath. I hate lying, injustice, and violence.
The Lord Almighty gave this message to Zechariah: “The fasts held in the fourth, fifth, seventh, and tenth months will become festivals of joy and gladness for the people of Judah. You must love truth and peace.”
Now I am planning to bless the people of Jerusalem and Judah. So don’t be afraid. These are the things you should do: Speak the truth to one another. In the courts give real justice- the kind that brings peace. Do not plan ways of harming one another. Do not give false testimony under oath. I hate lying, injustice, and violence.
The Lord Almighty gave this message to Zechariah: “The fasts held in the fourth, fifth, seventh, and tenth months will become festivals of joy and gladness for the people of Judah. You must love truth and peace.”
20.2 Fast By Promoting Justice
(Zechariah 7:8-14)
The Lord gave this message to Zechariah: “Long ago I gave these commands to my people: ‘You must see that justice is done, and must show kindness and mercy to one another. Do not oppress widows, orphans, foreigners who live among you, or anyone else in need. And do not plan ways of harming one another.’
“But my people stubbornly refused to listen. They closed their minds and made their hearts as hard as rock. Because they would not listen to the teaching which I sent through the prophets who lived long ago, I became very angry. Because they did not listen when I spoke, I did not answer when they prayed. Like a storm I swept them away to live in foreign countries. This good land was left a desolate place, with no one living in it.”
The Lord gave this message to Zechariah: “Long ago I gave these commands to my people: ‘You must see that justice is done, and must show kindness and mercy to one another. Do not oppress widows, orphans, foreigners who live among you, or anyone else in need. And do not plan ways of harming one another.’
“But my people stubbornly refused to listen. They closed their minds and made their hearts as hard as rock. Because they would not listen to the teaching which I sent through the prophets who lived long ago, I became very angry. Because they did not listen when I spoke, I did not answer when they prayed. Like a storm I swept them away to live in foreign countries. This good land was left a desolate place, with no one living in it.”
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